FH Upper Austria Leads Training Programme for Student Representatives from Europe and Africa

Student representative bodies, such as the Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH), are an important part of democratic participation in higher education institutions. Whether negotiating with university management, building international networks, or implementing social projects that improve life on and around campus, student representatives take on responsibility worldwide. Despite differing institutional contexts, they share one key requirement: leadership skills that enable them to drive change and effectively represent the interests of their fellow students. FH-Prof. Dr. Silke Preymann from the Steyr Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is leading a project with European and African partners to develop these competencies, including intercultural skills.

“Next Level Skills for Student Leaders” (NELS) is a dynamic virtual training programme consisting of three comprehensive modules. “Future Challenges” addresses pressing topics such as megatrends, the digital transformation of education, and sustainability. “Next Level Skills” focuses on the further development of leadership capabilities and the promotion of inclusive communication, including in virtual environments. “New Ways of Student Organising” explores democratic engagement, values in higher education, and the art of effective networking.

Global Student Organisations on Board

The ERASMUS+-funded online training programme is open to students from European partner countries and Sub-Saharan Africa. Global, European, and national student organisations are actively involved.

“The international orientation of this project fits perfectly with our strategy as a Business School. At our Steyr Campus, international collaboration is an integral part of everyday academic life,” emphasizes FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Andreas Auinger, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management.

Key partners representing student organisations include the European Students’ Union (ESU), based in Brussels, the Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH), and the global umbrella organisation Global Student Forum. The latter was also the originator of the idea behind this programme format.

Participants in the programme develop essential skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, leadership, and effective communication. Equally important is internalizing the values that underpin these competencies: active citizenship based on the fundamental principles of freedom, tolerance, and non-discrimination.

Each semester, participants from both continents take part in ten intensive virtual sessions conducted in small, moderated groups. The programme also offers the opportunity to earn micro-credentials (ECTS credits), providing formal and tangible recognition of their commitment and achievements.

Investing in Capable Student Representatives Strengthens Higher Education Institutions

“What particularly excites me about the NELS project is the opportunity to connect students from Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa and enable them to learn from one another. The major societal challenges of our time can only be addressed collectively through dialogue, mutual understanding, and international cooperation,” explains Silke Preymann, Head of the Master’s Degree Programme in Human Resource Management (HRM) at the Steyr Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.

“When we support students in taking responsibility, developing their leadership skills, and gaining exposure to new perspectives,” Preymann continues, “we are investing not only in their personal development but also in the future of our higher education institutions and our society.”

Collaboration with a Harvard Sociologist

In Dr. Manja Klemenčič, a sociologist at the University of Ljubljana who is also affiliated with Harvard University, Preymann has found a strong ally. Klemenčič is internationally recognized as one of the leading scholars in the fields of student agency and student participation in higher education governance.

“It is important to both the University of Ljubljana and myself to be part of the NELS project because it empowers students in Africa and Europe to create positive change at their institutions and within their communities. The NELS project consortium, led by the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, brings together a group of dedicated and highly competent partners from higher education institutions and student organisations.”

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